Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The Reformation Polka

If you've never seen this, (A) you have to, (B) you'll love it, and (C) you'll thank me for it. Here is just a taste:

The Reformation Polka

by Robert Gebel

[Sung to the tune of "Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious"]

When I was just ein junger Mann I studied canon law;
While Erfurt was a challenge, it was just to please my Pa.
Then came the storm, the lightning struck, I called upon Saint Anne,
I shaved my head, I took my vows, an Augustinian! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

When Tetzel came near Wittenberg, St. Peter's profits soared,
I wrote a little notice for the All Saints' Bull'tin board:
"You cannot purchase merits, for we're justified by grace!
Here's 95 more reasons, Brother Tetzel, in your face!" Oh...

Chorus:....

And that's only a taste. You must go see (and sing!) the whole song over at OldLutheran.com. It's funny, it's clever, it's impossible to get out of your head -- and it actually teaches a lot of wonderful information.

We plan to sing it tonight at our Reformation Party, as we roast the papal bull and enjoy a diet of (gummy) worms.

Happy Reformation Day -- a day worth celebrating!

7 comments:

ricki said...

gotta love them lutherans ...

Chris said...

I remember that song being difficult to sing last year...

DJP said...

1. Oh, wahh.

2. Perhaps it was difficult because you were singing it alone. It would have been much easier the previous year, when we had our first RD party.

(c;

candy said...

We had our Reformation Party Sat. night. Wonderful potluck, the old Martin Luther movie, and a rousing ending to the night singing A Mighty Fortress.

DJP said...

So, I forget, Candy -- was that the first time you'd seen that movie all the way through? I've only seen part. What did you think? Details!

candy said...

I liked the old movie a lot because a lot of scripture was spoken. I didn't like how they showed him with this consistently great demeanor in all circumstances. When he was at the Diet of Worms and asked to think about their questions, it showed him praying that night, and it sure didn't look like he was agonizing. It never showed him timid. When he presented his first communion, it showed him trembling a bit, but that is all. I hear there is a newer than that movie, but older than the more recent movie. I would like to see that one too.

p.s. we had a lot of kids so sometimes it was hard to hear what was going on in the movie.

Roderick_E said...

The audio was set to a visual presentation, check it out here: Reformation Polka